
Author Archives: FIFA-Medical

Case A 33-year-old recreational player experienced sudden pain in the anterior groin as he shot the ball. He presented to a physiotherapist shortly after the injury but did not make much progress. Five yard passes were tolerable but anything more than that that required power created pain. He presented to a sport and exercise physician [...]

Are isometric exercises a good treatment for tendinopathy ?
This edition of the FastFact highlights an editorial, rather than original research, which has prompted an interesting online argument (look for the @BJSM_BMJ Twitter account) about a common clinical problem1. The editorial highlights that while isometric exercise has become a very popular treatment for the management of acute tendinopathy, the evidence for this approach is [...]

Hook of Hamate fracture
Case This 42-year-old male recreational football player presents with an eight-week history of hand and wrist pain following a fall onto his right hand. He is found to have localised tenderness over the volar aspect of his wrist and mild discomfort with gripping activities. Findings A routine x-ray series of the wrist was completed at [...]

Ankle syndesmosis injury
Case This 20-year-old national representative football player presented following an acute injury to her left ankle. She described an eversion type mechanism during a competitive match. While she was unable to play on, she did not immediately think that her injury was too bad. The following day however her ankle was very sore, and she [...]

Bipartate patella
Case A 25-year-old football player was referred to see you with a suspected ‘patella fracture’. He describes a twisting injury on his planted right leg followed by a pop sensation and near immediate pain and swelling in his right knee. He was seen at a local emergency clinic and was told he had fractured his [...]

Medial Malleolus Fracture
Case A 48-year-old female spectator presents four weeks after “twisting” her right ankle walking to a game. She described localised medial ankle pain and difficult weight bearing. She was seen at an emergency department where an x-ray was said to be normal. As she was still unable to weight-bear two weeks later her family doctor [...]

Osteochondral injury
Case This 17 year old elite footballer presents with recurrent locking symptoms in his left knee. He has had mild intermittent discomfort in his knee for some time, but over the last month or so has developed recurrent locking. His presentation was provoked by an episode where his knee “jammed out straight” while he was [...]

Heat breaks reduce thermal stress
This laboratory based study has shown that simple strategies (including heat breaks, cold water and the use of ice towels) can reduce heat stress in trained football players. These are very practical and can be incorporated into a football match – even when games are played in the most remote or basic conditions. Football is [...]

Tibia fracture
Case A 23-year-old recreational player presented with lower leg pain after a heavy tackle. He described being kicked in the lower leg and experiencing immediate pain. He was however able to get up and limp off. He was seen at a local emergency department where he was diagnosed with a contusion. Three weeks later he [...]

Taping, bracing and exercise can all help prevent ankle sprains
This FastFact showcases a clinical guideline which explores the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of lateral ankle sprains. It was created by a multi-disciplinary team of experts and is evidence-based1. Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in football. They can have significant morbidity and can be associated with recurring instability. One of the stated [...]